Monday, February 14, 2011

World Cup 2011 Umpires

ICC Umpire selection panel has announced the 18 umpires’ team for the ICC World Cup 2011 which will start from 19 February, 2011 in Dhaka. Enamul Haque will be the reserve umpire at the World Cup who will officiate in the warm up matches and during the World Cup, if required. Out of 18 umpires’ team, 12 of them belong to Elite Panel of ICC Umpires while the rest umpires including reserve umpire Enamul Haque belong to International Panel of Umpires and referees.
The ICC Umpire selection panel consisted of David Richardson (ICC General Manager - Cricket), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (former elite panel umpire), David Lloyd (former player, coach, umpire and now television commentator) and Ranjan Madugalle (ICC Chief Match Referee). Among 18 umpires, 6 are from Asia, 5 from Australia, 3 from England, 2 from New Zealand and 1 each from South Africa and West Indies.
Among 6 Asian umpires, 2 are from India namely Shavir Tarapore and Amish Saheba, 2 from Pakistan namely Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar, 2 from Sri Lanka namely Ashoka de Silva and Kumar Dharmasena. Reserved umpire Enamul Haque has been selected from Bangladesh. It is very hard to say who will be the lime light among 18 umpires at World Cup 2011. But among these umpires some are extremely popular among cricket followers. Billy Bowden, Simon Tauffel, and Aleem Dar have their own charisma on the field and off the field.
Five referees are also selected by the ICC selection panel. All these selected referees belong to the Elite Panel of ICC Referees and are considered as the best cricket referees.